Imprinting apparatus



Sept. 14, 1937. E. c. WELLS 2,092,995 I IMPRINTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 14, 1937. E. c. WELLS IMPRINTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 14 1937 UNITED STATES QPATENT OFFICE r IMPBINTING APPARATUS Edward 0. Wells, Dayton, Ohio Application February 21, 1934, Serial No. 78,277

16 Claims.

'lhis'invention relates to the printing or impressing of letters or other characters, and more particularly to typewriters, and the like, having mechanisms, or attachments therefor, whereby controlled spacing of the imprinting characters is aii'orded to produce justified lines.

One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of a typewriter, or the like, for effecting spacing of the letters or other characters as they are being printed or impressed to produce laterally related columns of justified lines.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a type character associating device for production of laterally related justified lines from unjustified copy arranged as laterally spaced columns of random length lines, comprising a selectively variable and readily adjustable spacing means movable for the extent of a predetermined line length, and a platen selectively attachable to the spacing means at positions spaced apart an amount greater than the predetermined line length for repeated. operation by the spacing means.

Another object of the invention is the provision in such a character associating device of indicating means adapted for selective registration with a line end of each column of the unjustified copy as an index of' the adjusted positioning of the spacing means to reproduce the indicated line to justified length.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a typewriter or the like arranged for producing justified lines, and including a variable platen feed having a feed release of such character that the platen may be rapidly traversed without disturbing the setting of the platen feed mechanism.

A further object is the provision of a typewriter or the like having a line justifying device, in which the platen is so associated with the justifying device as to conveniently provide for raising and lowering movement of the platen with respect to the justifying device.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

For purposes of. ready description 9. preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in'the accompanying drawings, as a justifying mechanism for a typewriter.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view with parts broken away for clearness of illustration, and

shows the spacing device of the invention as a mechanis chine;

in Fig. 1:

m associated with a typewriting mais a plan view of the structure shown 5 Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the character spacing device:

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5-is a vertical sectional view taken on the 10 line 5-5 of Fig. 4;'

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a drive connection and corresponds to the section indicated at H of Fig 4 Fig. 7 is a fragmentary selector mechanism and tion indicated at 1-1 of Fig. 8

on the line H of Fig. 5; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of another form p0 of operating connection between the character spacing device and the device upon which the characters are impressed Fig. 10 Fig. 9; a

or associated; is a view taken on the line i9--i9 of nd 25 Fig. 11 is a view taken similarly to Fig. 10 showing the parts after movement.

When associating type characters as words or other character normally groups into lines, the lines would be ofvarying length due to the varyso ing number of letters in the several words which can be included within a line of a predetermined maximum length. In typewriting for example, the characters are normally associated in lines having character spaces of uniform length, and

because the character groups can only be separated at established places such, for example, as at the end of a word or at the end of a syllable where a hyphen may be used, the lines necessarily vary in length. In such acters only one margin This invention an association of char- 4 is aligned. provides for the association of such characters in justified lines,--that is to say,

in lines having margins are aligned, and further a common length so that both provides for the 45 association of laterally related columns of lines in Justified form. Justification is accomplished by varying the length of the character spaces in accordance with the unjustified line length. The

length of character space is varied with respect to what might be termed a normal space length. The adjusted space length for any line is established by same characters arranged at im g.

reference to a like association of the normal character and by proportioning the character 55 if unjustified lines are to be reproduced to a predetermined common line length, the length difference of each unjustified line is absorbed by altering the character space length so that the characters are distributed to the justifled line length. This is accomplishedby the provision of variable spacing means operatively connected'to the platen upon which the characters are associated in justified form. Also, there is provision for connecting the platen to the variable spacing means at positions spaced apart an amount greater than the predetermined line length so th'at laterally related lines may be produced to the justified or predetermined line length.

Through provision of the selectively engageable driving connection between the variable spacing meansand the platen it is possible to rapidly produce justified copy in laterally related columns by the use of a simple justifying mechanism of but a single line length capacity.

The justifier provides the operating connection between that part of a type character associating device from which the type characters are associated, and that part which is relatively movable thereto and upon which the type characters are adapted to be associated. By controlling the relative movement of these parts which; for purposes of description, have been termed the frame and platen respectively, the characters may be readily associated in lines of common length, as set forth in my prior application for Letters Patent Serial No. 669,097, filed May 3, 1933.

The type character spacing device or justifier is readily applicable to different uses, for example, as for spacing type characters that are associated by imprinting as in typewriting, or by controlling the spacing of the associated characters into justified form for the production of a stencil or the like. The spacing device or justifier may be constructed as an integral part of a type character associating device or may be constructed as an attachment therefor as is shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention wherein the justifier is applied as an attachment for a typewriter so that typewritten lines may be produced to a justified or common length.

In the drawings, in which like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views thereof, the numeral l0 designates the type character spacing device or ju'stiiier which is shown as having a frame portion Ii and a carriage i2 which is movable thereon. The

justifier as herein shown is mounted upon a common base i3 with a typewriter id although it is to be understood that the justifier need not be a separate part from the typewriter or other character associating device. The typewriter comprises generally'a frame i5 and a carriage it that is movable thereon. The justifier is operatively connected to the typewriter for controlling the movement of 'the typewriter carriage 65 whereby the type characters associated or imprinted in word or other sequence relationship on the platen ll of the typewriter carriage it may be spaced to produce lines of common length,that is to say, so that the lines may be justified.

The justifier is readily applicable to diiferent makes of typewriters and for purposes of illustration has been shown as associated with a Royal" typewriter. As the operation and.' mech- -anism of this construction of typewriter are well known, being such as described in the patent to Hess et al. 1,427,464, August 29, 1922, only so much of the mechanism of this typewi 'iter is illustrated in detail as is needed in order to permit of a clear understanding of the operation of the typewriter and attached justifler.

Asmentioned above, the justifler serves tov control the length of character space movement of the typewriter platen H which is operatively connected to the carriage-l2. This is accomplished by the provision of mechanism between the relatively movable justifier parts H and I! so that the space length of a character movement maybe varied in accordance with the number of characters that are to be'associated in a justified line. For any given justified line the character spaces are of'.uniform length, and in the different lines constituting a sheet of copy the space length for a line varies in accordance with the number of character spaces therein.

The variation in the space length is obtained through provision of a selective drive operable between the frame H and carriage l2 and which may be readilycontrolled as to the extent I of a space movement, and includes a selector whereby a proper space length relationship maybe established to produce lines of a common length.

In the form of type character spacing device illustrated the carriage i 2 is supported for movement upon the frame Hi As shown, one side of the frame II is provided with a guideway 20 having a groove 2| that is cooperatively related to a similar groove in the guideway 22 on the carriage l2. 'Aplurality offbearing balls 23 are positioned between the guideway grooves and provide a free moving support at one side of the carriage l2. Additional support is afforded by a rod 25 that is shown mounted between laterally extending brackets 2B'and 26' on the frame ll, -This rod is slidably engaged by a bracket 21 (Figure 4) which is attached to and extends downwardly from the carriage I2. Carriage movement in the right hand direction is limited by provision of a sleeve 28 on the rod 25 which serves as a stop between the frame bracket 26v and the carriage br sket 21. This stop mechanism also serves'lnlccatlng the left hand margin position of the typewriter car riage l6. v

The carriage i2 is constantly urged toward the left (as viewed in Figs. 2, 3 and 4) and is controlled in its movement in that direction by an escapement mechanism. Carriage movement to the left is by means of a spring and. ribbon such as is common and well known for the movement of a typewriter carriage. As shown, a stud 39 on the frame i l carries a rotatable spool 3| upon which a ribbon 32 is wrapped. One end of the ribbon is fixed to the spool and the other end is connected'at 33 to the carriage. A suitable spring is attached to the stud 30- and spool 38 to tension the spool for movement of the carriage to the left.

An escapement controls the space by space movement of the carriage 52. As shown, the escapement comprises a ratchet wheel 38 (Figure 8) which is rotatable upon a shaft 35 that is carried by a frame 36 attached to the iustifier frame Ii. A rocking member 31, which engages the ratchet wheel 34, is pivotally mounted at 30 upon a member 39 which is pivotally supported at W from the frame 35. In normal operation the parts stand as shown in Figs. 5 and 8. The ratchet wheel 36 has angularly spaced teeth 4| which are engaged in succession by parts carried on the rocking member 31 for spacing movement of the carriage. A pivotally movable arm 42 on the rocking member is spring tensioned for movement between a fixed stop 43 and an adjustable stop 44. In one position of the rocking member the arm 42 stands in the path of movement of the escapement wheel teeth and, as a result of the spring tension on the carriage i2. is held by the tooth against the adjustable stop 44. Upon pivotally moving the rocking member, as by depressing a key on the typewriter, the upper end of the member 31 swings forwardly an amount suflicient to disengage the arm 42 and engage a finger 48 with the tooth previously held by the arm 42. This permits the arm to move under urge of its spring 41 into engagement with the fixed stop 43 so that upon return movement of the frame 31 the arm will engage the next tooth and thus permit'a movement of the wheel 34 by the amount of one tooth space. The escapement wheel 34 has associated with it on the shaft 38 a pinion 48 which is caused to move with the escapement wheel in one direction of its movement through provision of a spring pressed pawl 43. This pawl serves as a drive connection between the pinion and wheel in the direction of feeding movement of the carriage and serves also, by overrunning, to permit independent return movement of the carriage.

The feeding movement of the escapement is carried from the pinion 48 through an intermediate gear assembly, which will be described later, to a gear 58 (Figure 5) which is interconnected with other gears of different sizes for rotation with a. common shaft 59 carried by the frame II.

The several gears rotate together and mesh with racks that may be selectively connected to the carriage l2. The gears are proportioned so that the I pitch diameter of each differs from the pitch diameter of an adjacent gear by an amount sufflcient to change the number of character spaces in a predetermined line length by one whole character space. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the justifying device is associated with a typewriter which normally spaces 20 characters to the inch. The arrangement is such that the typed lines may be laterally related and consequently the justified or predetermined line length has been established as a relatively short line in order to accommodate two laterally spaced lines within the limits of an 8 sheet of paper. The predetermined or justifled line length in the illustrated example is 2.85" or fifty-seven normal characters long. The pitch diameters of the gear 50 is therefore such that for 57 movements of the escapement mechanism the gear 58 will advance its rack 2.85 inches. The next adjacent gear Si is sufllciently larger that only 56 character space movements by the escapement are necessary to move the associated rack the same amount that the rack of gear 58 is moved in 57 character spaces, that is, to provide the same carriage movement and the same length line. This same relationship exists between the gears 52 and El and so on between gears 53, 54, 55, to gear 56 which is of such size that ii character spaces will be distributed uniformly in the 2.85 inch line. It will be obvious that other sizes of gears may be used so long as their relationship is such that they diil'er one from the other in amounts such as to produce a one character space difference in the predetermined line length. It will likewise be apparent that a gear intermediate the largest and smallest gears may be employed to provide normal space lengths in which event it will be possible to either i 3 condense or elongate the random length lines of unjustified copy.

\ The corresponding racks, which are indicated by the numerals 88 to 88, are all of like form and are slidably mounted upon the carriage. As shown, the carriage is provided with spaced blocks 81 and 88. These blocks are notched on their underside to slidably receive the racks as indicated at 68 and position the racks in alignment with the corresponding gears. Each rack is slotted as indicated at 51 corresponding to the spacing of the blocks, and each is held for sliding movement within the blocks through provision of pins 58 that pass through the rack shown, freely movable arms 18 to 16 are positioned adjacent the racks for rocking movement upon the right hand pin 58. Each arm is provided with a notch 'i'i which is adapted to engage a pin projection 18 on the associated rack. The arms are of like shape and consequently the notches 11 all stand an equal distance from the pivot pin 58 upon which the arms are mounted. The arms are urged downwardly by provision of springs 18. The associated gears and racks are assembled in such relationship that when the carriage is moved to the righthand position the pins I8 will stand axially aligned and beneath the arm notches H for engagement thereby.

It should be understood that any desired line length may be justified by a proper selection of drive gears corresponding to the gears 58 to 56. However, the gears must be of related sizes so that for a given line length the gears will permit carriage movement of that amount differing in adjacently related gears by one whole character space length. The gears are preferably selected as to size so that the gear which provides the greatest number of character spaces for a given line length will produce space lengths which are normal for the size of characters used. For example, when the iustifier is used with a. typewriter the spacing aiforded by the gear mentioned is the same as the spacing produced by the typewriter escapement. For convenience in description this has been called normal spacing. As mentioned, the typewriter of the illustrated embodiment of the invention is arranged to write normally twenty characters per inch. The escapement wheel 34 has ten teeth. The intermediate gearing, referred to generally above, is such as to move the gear 50 and associated gears by one whole character space length for each tooth movement of the wheel 34. As shown, the pinion 48 meshes with a gear having a shaft 8i rotatable in the frame 38. The gear 80 meshes with a gear 82 which is fixed to a pinion 83 that engages the gear 50. The pair of gears 82-83 have a shaft 84 rotatable in a stud projection 85 on the frame II. By the use of the intermediate gearing a compact escapement with adequate tooth spacing is afforded. By mounting the escapement member 31 on the pivotally movable part 39 a simple means is afforded for rapidly traversing the carriage without disturbing the relationship of the spacing means. As shown, the pivot axis 38 of the escapement member may be moved downwardly to withdraw the escapement member from engagement with the escapement ratchet wheel. When this is done the carriage andassociated movable parts may be moved freely back a forth as desired. Movement of the escapement is by means of a projecting leverarm 86 on the part 39 which has a link connection 81 with an arm 88 of the rock shaft 89 which extends through the justifier frame and is suitably supported therein. The shaft end carries an operating lever 90 which projects forwardly at the side of the frame II. Stop pins 9| limit the travel of the lever and it is urged toward escapement engaged position by a spring 92. A second spring 93 also urges the mechanism toward engaging position. As shown, the spring 93 extends from the frame 36 to an arm 94 of the pivotally movable part 39. The engaged relationship is fixed by provision of stop faces. 95 and 96 on the parts 36 and 39 respectively. As the carriage release mechanism just described permits free carriage movement without disturbing the driving engagement of the selective spacing means it is apparent that means are provided whereby the carriage may be moved as in tabulating, or it may be moved to strike'over a letter without losing the justifying adjustment.

A selector is provided whereby the proper arm may be moved into engaging position for operatively connecting. the desired rack and gear to the carriage. The selector comprises a rotatable shaft 91 which is carried in bearings 98 on the carriage I2. The shaft has mounted upon it a plurality of axially spaced cams indicated by the numerals I00 to I06 and positioned corresponding to the arms. Each arm has at its outward end a roller I09 which engages the periphery of its associated cam. As shown, the cams are formed generally circular and each has an indentation III] of sufficient depth to permit arm movement whereby a notch 11 may engage its associated pin 19. The cams are fixed to the shaft 91 so that their respective notches are equally spaced in angular relationship, thereby preventing more than one arm from moving to engaging position at a time. Movement of the cam shaft 91 is effected by manipulation of a readily accessible knob III.

Indicating means are associated with the selector whereby the positioning of the selector may be readily observed, and to aid in, effecting driving engagement with the proper gear and rack assembly. As shown, the shaft 91 has fixed to it a cam II 3 which is constructed with a series of stepped faces corresponding in number to the cams I99 to I06 and of progressively increasing distance from. the shaft axis. A bar H4 that is slidably carried by the blocks Hand 58 operatively engages the cam- II3 for movement thereby in accordance with the positioning of the shaft 91 and its associated parts. The bar H4 is slidably mounted upon the blocks 61 and 38 through provision of slots I I5 that are engaged by screws IIB held in the blocks. The end of the bar adjacent the cam H3 is provided with a roller II1 which is urged into contacting engagement with the cam by a spring H3. The bar II I carries an upstanding arm H9 that moves in accordance with the cam positioning and thus serves as an indicator for readily adjusting the selector. The radial spacing of the cam faces is such that the pointer is moved by adjacently related faces an amount equal to a normal character space. The cam H3 is fixed to the shaft 91 so that the cam. face of shortest radius will engage the roller of the bar IIfi when the cam I00 is positioned to permit engagement of the arm 10 with the rack 69 so that the gear 50 is connected to the carriage I2. As the shaft is rotated to bring other of the cams I00 to I06 into arm engaging position the bar moves accordingly. The arm II9 of this bar is attached to mechanism which is adapted to' register with unjustified copy so that the unjustifled copy will serve as an index for setting .the selector and the variable spacing. The indexing mechanism will be described later.

Asmentioned above, the justifler carriage I2 I has a driving connection with the typewriter carriage I6 to control the movement of the platen I1. The justifier is also connected to the typewriter so'that character space movements are imparted to the justifler carriage in accordance with typewriter operation; that is, the justifler carriage is moved as the typewriter keys are depressed. This operation is produced by connecting the justifler escapement with the typewriter escapement, and by rendering inoperative the connection between the typewriter escapement and the typewriter carriage I9 so that'the movement of the carriage I6 is controlled by the movement of the justifler carriage I2. As shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 5, the rocking member 31 of the justifler escapement carries a roller I2I that is engaged by an arm I22 on a rock shaft I23 which carries also a second arm I24. The

arm I24 has a link connection I25 with the bar 7 I21 of the typewriter escapement mechanism. The bar I21 is supported for rocking movement and moves to actuate the typewriter escapement I28 upon depression of any key. The rocking movement of the bar I21 is transmitted to the justifler escapement through the linkage just described so that the justifler escapement is actuated in accordance with the operation of the typewriter escapement. As mentioned above, the operating connection between the typewriter escapement and the typewriter carriage is rendered inoperative. This is accomplished by holding the carriage escapement release lever I39 in depressed position through provision of a suitable latch I3I.- Upon depressing the lever I30 the escapement rack I32 is moved out of engagement with the pinion I33 that is associated with the typewriter escapement wheel I34.

A driving connection is provided whereby the typewriter carriage I6 and platen I1 will move in. accordance with the movement of the justifier carriage I2. This driving connection is of such character that the typewriter carriage may be attached to the justifier carriage at positions spaced apart an amount greater than the predetermined line length so that laterally related lines may be reproduced on the typewriter platen to justified line length. As shown particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the bracket 21 of the carriage I2 has attached to it-a flat plate I99 which extends parallel to the typewriter carriage bar IGI. This plate has on its upper edge spaced notches I32; Between the notches the bartop is fiat, as indicated at I43, and beyond the notches it curves downwardly as indicated at I93. The carriage I6 carries a member for selective engagement with the notches. -As shown, the bar MI has fixed to it spaced upstanding blocks I96 and I61 hind it, is held in secure engagement in which there is no side play. A locking screw I58 is provided on the block I41 to engage and hold the rock shaft with the arm I48 in disengaged usually written in justified form by writing across the full page width rather than by completing one column before starting the second column,

the intervening column space is preferably a multiple of whole character spaces.

A somewhat modifiedform of driving connec tion is shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11. Here the bracket 21 is provided with a block I55 having spaced upstanding side members I58 which carry a hinge pin I51 for support of a pivotally movable hinge member I58. The member I58 extends forwardly and overlies the bar I4I of the typewriter carriage. Additional support for the hinge member is afforded on the block I55 by provision of side fingers I58 which are spaced apart to I be produced.

The first" described driving connection as well as that described immediately above are such as to accommodate a vertical movement of the typewriter carriage with respect to the justifier carriage without lateral displacement. This is of advantage in use on typewriters in which the change from lower case to upper case is by a vertical shift of the carriage. Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate this accommodation to carriage movement.

To produce associated type characters in lines of justified length the characters are first associated' in lines of random length by using normal spacing. This copy is then used as an index or guide for reproducing the characters in lines of justified length. To use the illustrated structure to provide an example of this, the matter to be reproduced in justified lines is first typed on the typewriter in the normal manner to produce a sheet of copy in which the lines are of random length and are all within the limits of operation of the justifying mechanism. If desired some form of guide marks may-be provided on the sheet to indicate these limits. In making the original copy on the typewriter the lines must all terminate within the established limits. This is readily accomplished by either terminating the line at the end of a word, or by terminating the line where a word may be hyphenated In the illustrated construction provision has been made to justify as much as six space lengths in the predetermined line length. This means, including the normal space length afforded by gear 58, that lines varying as much as seven spaces can be justified. It has been found by practice that practically any line of approximately the predetermined line length may be terminated within a seven space variation either by ending a word or by hyphenating. In those few instances where a greater variation exists justification is obtained by inserting an additional character space between a suiiicient number of adjacently related words that the line is reproduced to justified length. V

In order that the unjustified copy may be readily used as a guide in adjusting the justifier to produce justified lines a carrier is provided for such copy. As shown, the justifier carriage has a copy carrier I 18 mounted above it upon brackets "I. The copy carrier I18 comprises a frame I12 upon which a roller I 13 is rotatably mounted. The .roller I18 is arranged to support the unjustified copy so that it may be readily moved to a desired position by turning the roller knob I14.

Adjustable clips I15, slidable on the cross bar I15, also\aid in positioning the copy in the frame I12. The unjustified copy is thus held so that it can be easily read by the operator when reproducing it in justified form, and so that the indeiing mechanism of the selector may be readily moved with respect to the unjustified line lengths for adjustment of the character space length.

The indexing mechanism is operatively connected to the arm H9. As shown, the upper end 'of the arm II9 terminates in a yoke I88 which engages a pin I8Iv of a connecting bar I82. The bar ends are slotted as indicated at I88 to adjustably hold ,point'ers I84 which are slidably mounted on the cross bar- I15. The adjustable connection is by means of a screw which pro-' jects from the pointer through the slot I83 for engagement by'a nut I85 by which the pointer is held to the connecting bar I82. The pointers are spaced apart to correspond to the margin spacing of the unjustified copy. They are positioned; when in the normal space setting of the selector, to register with the right hand margins of the predetermined line length of the unjusti fled copy. They are adjustable because in some instances the unjustified copy may have a column spacing different from that provided for in the spacing of notches on the bar I48. Also, it may be desirable to alter the column spacing of the justified copy. This can be done by replacing the bar I48 with one having the desired notch spacing, and by merely adjusting the pointers.

The device is prepared to produce laterally related columns of justified lines by moving the carriage I2. to its extreme right hand position (as viewed in Fig. 2), and by engaging the driving connection in the right handnotch. This serves to move the carriage I5 and platen I1 to the lateral position which those parts occupy at the beginning of each line of the left hand column of justifled copy. The selector knob III is then turned to the point at which the gear and rack associated with'normal spacing are operatively connected to the carriage I2. In this specific embodiment of the invention the gear 58 and rack 58 communicate such normal space movements to the carriage I2 but as has been pointed out any one of the gears 5| to 55 inclusive might be employed for this purpose in connection with its particular associated rack. The unjustified copy, which has previously been provided with guidelines or reference marks to identify the right hand margins of the justified line lengths, is now placed in the carrier and the pointers I84 are shifted into alignmentwith the respective margin guide lines or marks by loosening the screws I85 to permit the pointers to move independently of cross bar I and connecting bar I82. The pointers are again clamped to the connecting bar I I2 through the medium of the screw I and the selector knob III is then turned to move the left hand pointer I84 into registration with the last letter of the first line that is to be recopied in Justified form. This operation automatically selects the gear and rack which will' reproduce the uniustified line to justified length. Having written the left hand column first line, the entire device is returned to the initial position after which the arm I49 is released and the carriage I6 is moved to the left to engage the left hand notch I62 This places the platen in the left hand margin position of the right hand column. The selector is then moved to bring the right hand pointer into registration with the last letter of the right hand line and this is then copied in justified form.

As an example of operation, if the left hand first line is two characters short of predetermined line length the knob iii is turned on amount sumcient .to bring the left hand pointer I8 5 into registration with the last letter of the line, which brings the cam IE2 into position for engagement of the arm I2 with its rack 62 so that gear 52 will connect the justifier escapement to the carriage. The copy is then reproduced on the typewriter and, by having selected a proper length of character space, will be reproduced t0 justified line length. This same procedure is followed for each succeeding line of the original unjustified copy, and in each line the selection is made in accordance with the unjustified line length.

In order to insure maintenance of the selected character space length throughout the extent of any given line, whereby all of the character spaces of that line are of uniform extent. a locking device is provided so that selection can only be made at one position in the carriage travel. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention this selection is made at the right hand limit of carriage movement in which position the lock is disengaged. This corresponds to the left hand linemargin.

As shown, a lever arm I is pivotally attached at ISI to the carriage I2 and is urged in a counterclockwise direction by provision of a spring I92. The arm has a detent finger I93 which is adapted to engage a notched wheel I96 that is fixed to the shaft 9'! and is provided with notches I95 corresponding in positioning to the indented portions IIII of the cams it to Hit. The movement of the lever arm I90 is controlled by a horizontally extending fixed bar I98 which extends along the front of the frame Ii and is positioned so that the lower end I91! of the arm I90 can only override the bar I96 when the detent I93 is in engagement with a notch of the wheel I96. The parts I90 and let are coordinated as to positioning so that when the carriage is in the extreme right hand position the arm end IS'I may drop down under action of the spring I92 an amount suficient to release the detent I93. In this position the arm end I91 operates against the end of the bar I96 as a positive stop whereby the carriage may not be moved until the arm I90 is rocked by depressing thehandle portion I98 to engage the detent I93 and release the arm end In. Upon making the proper gear selection the handle portion I98 is depressed whereupon the carriage moves to the left an amount just sufficient to cause the arm end I 91 to override the bar. I96. The selected line is then typed in justified form and the typed on the platen of the typewriter carriage it either by using the typewriter escapement or the justifier escapement'as desired.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for associating type characters in justified lines comprising a movable platen, a carrier for copy arranged in lines of uniform character spacing and of random length, variable spacing means for moving the platen by space movements for the extent of the predetermined line length, adjusting means for varying the extent of a space movement of the spacing means, means for selectively connecting the platen to the spacing means at positions spaced apart at least the extent of the predetermined line length for repeat operations of the spacing means to associate characters on the platen in laterally related justified lines, and indicating means operable with the adjusting means and extending toward the copy carrier for registration with a random length line end as an index of the adjusted positioning of the spacing means to provide a space length for reproduction of the indicated line to justified length.

2.4% device for associating type characters in justified lines comprising a platen movable at least twice the distance of a predetermined line length, a carrier for unjustified copy comprising characters associated in random length lines of uniform character spacing and arranged as laterally related columns, variable spacing'means for moving the platen by space movements for the extent of the predetermined line length, adjusting means for varying the extent of a space movement of the spacing means, means for selectively connecting the platen to thespacing means at positions spaced apart at least the extent of the predetermined line length for association of characters on the platen in laterally related justified lines, and indicating means operable with the adjusting means and extending toward the copy carrier for selective registration with a random line end of each column of the unjustified copy as an index of the adjusted positioning of the spacing means to provide a space length for reproduction of the indicated line to justified length.

3. A device for associating type characters in justified lines comprising a platen movable at least twice the distance of a predetermined line length, a carrier for unjustified'copy comprising characters associated in random length lines of uniform character spacing and arranged as laterally related columns, variable spacing means for moving the platen by space movements for the extent of the predetermined line length, adjusting means for varying the extent of a space movement of the spacing means, means for selectively connecting the platen to the spacing means at positions spaced apart at least the extent of the predetermined line length for association of characters on the platen in laterally related justified lines, and indicating means operable with the adjusting means and comprising spaced pointers extending toward the copy carrier for selective registration with a random line end of each column of the unjustified copy as an index of the adjusted positioning of the spacing means to provide a space length for reproduction of the indicated line to Justified length.

4. A device for associating type characters in Justified lines comprising a, platen movable at least twice the distance of a predetermined line length, a carried for unjustliied copy comprising characters associated in random length lines of uniform character spacing and arranged as laterally related columns, variable spacing means for moving the platen by space movements for the extent of the predetermined line length, ad'- justing means for varying the extent of a space movement of the spacing means, means for selectively connecting the platen to the spacing means at positions spaced apart at least the extent of the predetermined line length for association of characters on the platen in laterally related justified lines, and indicating means operable with the adjusting means and comprising a member extending toward the copy carrier,

spaced pointers relatively adjustable on said member to the margin spacing of the unjustified copy and movable with said member for selective registration with a random line end of each column of the unjustified copy as an index of the adjusted positioning of the spacing means to provide a space length for reproduction of the indicated line to justified length.

5. A device for associating type characters in justified lines comprising a platen movable at least twice the distance of a predetermined line length, a carrier for unjustified copy comprising characters associated in random length lines of uniform character spacing and arranged as laterally related columns, variable spacing means for moving the platen by space movements for the extent of the predetermined linelength, adjusting means for varying the extent of a space movement of the spacing means, means for selectively connecting the platen to the spacing means at positions spaced apart at least the extent of the predetermined line length for association of characters on the platen in laterally related justified lines, and indicating means operable with the adjusting means, said indicating means comprising a guide member on the copy' carrier, pointers corresponding in number to the columns of unjustified copy and slidably mounted on said guide member, means interconnecting said pointers and operably engaging said adjusting means for selective registration of a pointer with a random line end as an index of the adjusted positioning of the spacing means to provide a space length for reproduction of the indicated line to justified length.

6. A device for associating type characters in justified lines comprising a platen movable at least twice the distince of a predetermined line length, a carrier for unjustified copy comprising characters associated in random length lines of uniform character spacing and arranged as laterally related columns, platen moving means, an escapement variable spacing means connecting the escapement and platen moving means, adjusting means for varying the extent of a space movement of the spacing means said adjusting means comprising a movable control shaft, means for selectively connecting the platen to the platen moving means at positions spaced apart at least the extent of the predetermined line length for association of characters on the platen in laterally related justified lines, and indicating means having an operating connection to the adjustment control shaft and extending toward the copy carrier for selective'registration with a random line end of each column of the unjustified copy as an index of the'adjusted positioning of the control shaft to provide a space lengthier reproduction of the indicated line to justified length.

7. A device for associating type characters in justifled' lines comprising a platen movable at least twice the distance of a predetermined line. length, a carrier for unjustified copy comprising characters associated in random length lines of uniform character spacing and arranged as laterally related columns, platen moving means, an escapement, variable spacing means comprising a plurality of members of diifering space length characteristics, space adjusting means for selec- 'tively engaging one of said members in driving relationship between the escapement and the platen moving means, means for selectively connecting the platen to the platen moving means at positions spaced apart at least the extent of the predetermined line length for association of characters on the platen in laterally related justified lines, and indicating means comprising pointers corresponding in number to the columns of unjustified copy and operatively connected to the space adjusting means, said pointers extending toward the copy carrier for selective registration with a random length line end of each column of the unjustified copy as an index of the position of the adjusting means to provide a space length for reproduction of the indicated line to justified length.

8. A device for associating type characters in justified lines comprising a platen movable at least twice the distance of a predetermined line length, a carrier for unjustifled copy comprising characters associated in random length lines of uniform character spacing and arranged as laterally related columns, variable spacing means for moving the platen by space movement to the extent of the predetermined line length, means providing a stepped adjustment of the variable spacing means by amounts differing by one whole character space in the predetermined line length, means for selectively connecting the platen to the spacing means at positions spaced apart at least the extent of the predetermined line length for association of characters on the platen in laterally related justified lines, and indicating means comprising pointers corresponding in numher to the columns of unjustified copy, said pointers being spaced apart corresponding to the margin spacing of the unjustified copy, and

length, spacing means for moving the platen by means, and means for selectively connecting the platen to the spacing means at positions spaced apart an amount greater than predetermined line length for repeat operations of the spacing means to associated characters on the platen in laterally related justified lines.

10. A device for associating type characters in justified lines of predetermined length arranged as laterally related columns and comprising a platen movable at least twice the distance of a predetermined line length, variable spacing means for moving the platen by space movements for the extent of the predetermined line length, adjusting means for varying the extent of. a space movement of the spacing means, and means operable between the platen and the spacing means for selectively connecting the platen to the spacing means at positions spaced apart at least the extent of the predetermined line length for repeat operation of the spacing means to associate characters on the platen in laterally related justified lines, said connecting means comprising a latch member on one of said parts, and spaced latch receiving means on the other of said parts.

11. A device for associating type characters in justified lines of predetermined length arranged 39 as laterally related columns comprising a platen movable at least twice the distance of a predetermined line length, variable spacing means for moving the platen by space movements for the extent of the predetermined line length, adjusting means for varying the extent of a space movement of the spacing means, means operable between the platen and the spacing means for selectively connecting the platen to the spacing means comprising a member pivotally mounted 40 on one of said parts for movement on an axis extending in the direction of platen movement,

the other of said parts having notches thereon for reception of the pivotally mounted member, the notches being spaced apart at least the ex- 45 tent of the predetermined line length for association of characters on the platen in laterally related justified lines. a

12. A type character associating device of the character described comprising a platen movable 50 at. least twice the distance of a predetermined line length, variable spacing means for the platen, means for selectively connecting the spacing means and platen at positions spaced apart at least equal to the predetermined line length, 55 platen actuating control means for imparting a steppedmovement to the spacing means for the extent of the predetermined line length, and means for disconnecting the platen actuating control means from the spacing means for free 60 traversing of the platen and selected spacing means.

13. A type character associating device of the character described comprising a movable platen, feeding means for controlling platen movement by character space lengths comprising an escapement wheel and a rocking member for controlling movement thereof, variable spacing means comprising a plurality of members of varying space length characteristics having a common connection continuously engaging the escapement wheel of the feeding means and having selective engagement with the platen whereby one member is always in driving engagement for transmitting feeding movement to the platen by character spaces of a selected space length, and a pivotally movable support for the escapement wheel rocking member for movement of said member to a removed position with respect to the spacing means for free traversing of the platen while connected to the spacing means. I l

14. A typewriting device of the character described comprising a movable platen, a platen actuating control means for imparting stepped movement thereto, a plurality of spacing means of difiering space length characteristics having a common member opcratively engageable with the actuating control means, adjusting means 'for selectively engaging a desired spacing means with the platen, said adjusting means being movable to spaced points of adjustment and so related to the spacing means that one of said spacing means is always in engagement, locking means responsive to platen positioning to maintain the adjusting means in adjusted position except when the platen is in the left hand marginal position, and means for disengaging the actuating control means from the common member of the spacing means for free traversing of the platen and engaged spacing means.

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen adapted to traverse a plurality of adjacent columns in advancing and return excursions, a justifler carriage arranged to traverse a single column, and means to connect said platen and carriage in a plurality of different relationships to permit the carriage to control the movement of the platen throughout each of the plurality of columns traversed by the platen.

16. A type character justifying device comprising a movable platen, adjustably variable spacing means for the platen movable within predetermined limits in character space steps of varying length, said platen having a movement substantially exceeding the range defined by the limits of movement of the variable spacing means, connecting means providing driving engagement between the platen and spacing means attachable therebctween at a desired one of a plurality of points spaced in the direction of platen movement affording selective positioning of the platen withrespect to the spacing means to relatively displace justified lines of characters on the platen in the direction of platen movement.

EDWARD C. WELLS.

- CERTIFICATE OF C'ORRE ('HI'IOI1.-

Patent No. 2,092,995. September 11 1 957.

t V EDWARD c. WELLS. It 15 hereby certified vthat error appears inthe printed specification 7 of the above numbered patent requiring correction aafollowe: Page 5 first column, line 55, for the word "diameters." read diameter; page 7-, first col- 1mm, line 11 claiin l for "carried" read carrier; line 71, claim 6 after "eacapement" insert acomma; and second column, line 65; claim 8, for "and" Freed end;-pag'e 8, first column, line 8, claim 9, for "associated" read associ te; and that the aaid Letters-Patent should be read with these correctiona therein'that the ,same may conformto the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed-and eealed this 19th day or Qctober, A. D'. 1957.

Henry Van Aradale.

- (S e e.l) I V Acting Commissioner of Patents.

cERTIFIoATE 0F CORRECTION.

.Petent No 2,092,995. September} 1u,"1,957.'

c. WELLS. It is hereby certified that error appears invthe printed specificet ion of the above numbered patent requiz ing correction aefollowe: Page 5 first oo llimn, line 53 for the word "diameters" read diameter; page 7;, first column, line 11 olaiin 1+, for "p'arried" read carrier; line 71," claim 6, after "eecapement" insert a comma; and second column, line 65; cleini 8, foi' "and" .fi-ead endypege 8, first column, line 8,'cla1m 9, for "associated" read esseci te; and that thesaid Letters-Patent should be read with these corrections therein'thet the ,eame may cjonformto the record of the case in the Patent Office.

'S1gned-e.nd .se aied this 19th day of Qctobei', A. D. 1957.

Henry van" Ara dal'e.

-- (S e,el) Acting 'Gonnniseioner of Patents. 

